St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-07-14
MRS. HUNT AND THE TEXT BOOKS.

If mistake has been made in the pas
sage of the law now in force the best
way to bring the subject before the
people is to discuss it thoroughly in
the press of the state, that the mistakes
of the last legislature may be intelli-
gently considered by the next. If the
books are intoxicating error instead of
truth in the minds of the young people,
or if the pupils in the public schools
are not receiving the best instruction
procurable it ought to be shown up.
But it seems to US that there is some
danger that these questions may be
lost sight of altogether in the discus
sion now in progress concerning the
character of Mrs. Hunt, who, if we may
believe One-half that is said of her,
must be the shrewdest woman on the
continent, capable of befooling the
Vermont Christian Temperance Union
women, with the state legislature and
committee appointed by the COVER
nor to select certain text books thrown
in. 1t is dangerous having such wo-
man wandering up and down the cOun
try, if, in addition to being able she is
a fraud. In this connection we asked
the Montpelier Argus, which claims to
lead off in the attacks upon Mrs. Hunt,
to publish the facts in the case that we
might aid in disclosing Mrs. Hunts
character or want of character. In
place of facts the Argus puts us through
a short catechism. The questions are
simple and we will try and answer
them briefly and honestly. The first
one, relating to Mrs. Hunts alleged
career as paid lobbyist reads:
What does the Caledonian think the
acknowledged situation indicates
The CaledOnian has thought all
along and has not as yet seen sufficient
reason to change its opinion, that "the
acknowledged situation indicates" that
this woman, backed by a constituency
of 100000 other Christian women is
doing a great work for children that
this work has always been considered
woman's work that Mrs. Hunt, the
superintendent of scientific temper
ance instruction in the national w. C..
II. u. has laid such foundations in do
ing her work that in four years, with
the cooperation of the women of the
unions, temperance instruction laws
have been passed in 80 states and ter
ritOries, i. e.: this woman, if fraud,
has succeeded in deceiving the shrewd
law makers of 30 states including YER
mont.
Is it not an admitted fact that Mrs.
Hunt was the compiler of the Path
finder books
Yes. According to her own state
ment Mrs. Hunt, at great cost of time
and money to herself, secured manu-
scripts and compiled two books of the
Pathfinder series and then relinquish-
ed all right and title to compensation
for her services; statement confirm
ed by the house publishing the books.
If the Argus has any positive evidence
that Mrs. Hunt is classifying in these
statements let them be published. Not
hints or questions, please, but facts.
Is it not fact that Mrs. Hunt urged
their adoption before the commission
lect the temperance text books 2
Yes, she did urge their adoption up
on the official invitation of the YER
mont w. c. II. U. She came from
Washington for this special purpose
by their invitation. If there is sin
here it is at the door of the state
unions who are responsible for Mrs.
Hunts appearance in Vermont.
Is it not "fact" that an appeal was
made to the w. G. T. U. in Windham
county that money should be paid Mrs.
Hunt for work done in the legislature
Yes. The counties were called upon
to pay the bills which they themselves
had contracted, by vote of the last two
state conventions. 1t was as they re-
peatedly claimed, the work of the Yer
mont women for the benefit of the
Vermont children, under the direction
of the state president, aided by the
national superintendent of this depart
ment work, Mrs. Hunt.
These things being so, does it not
look as if Mrs. Hunt was pecuniarily
interested9
These things being so it looks to us
as though these hints as to Mrs. Hunts
pecuniary interest in the bill or the
books is not so much an insult to her
as to the 1000 Vermont women who di-
rected this work and the $4,000 Yer
mont citizens who petitioned for this
law.
What does the CaledOnian think of
the developments in Minnesota
Well, we think to print such a
charge as the Argus published and not
print or refer to Mrs. Hunts reply was
one of two things: Either the Argus
was fooled into printing the attack
when it had no means of seeing the
defence; or it was guilty of "pure
in Withholding the vindi-
cation which appeared in all the Min
neapOlis papers.
Why not let it's readers know that
the Waterman, Rutland Herald, etc.,
take the same view of this case that
the Argus has following our lead?
What is the use in quoting those
who have played second fiddle to the
Argus when we can go to the fouu- I
tain head But what does the Rut-
and Herald, for instance, say about